Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Books / Training on Projection

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-20-2000, 01:51 PM:

Many recent postings have asked the best way to become a skilled projectionist. In addition to participating in the Film-Tech Forum, and learning from other skilled film handlers here

, there are a variety of publications that pertain to various aspects of projection. Some are available on-line, some are still in print, and many out of print ones may still be in libraries or collections. Your local library can usually do a nation-wide search of other libraries to find a copy of a book to borrow if they don't have one. Also, try e-bay and other internet resources (amazon.com) to find rare or out-of-print books.

I'd like to have this thread be a list of publications that others have found useful in learning knowledge and skills needed to be a good projectionist and/or theatre service engineer. If possible, provide enough information so that others can obtain copies of the publication, and a short description or critique of the publication.

I'll start things off:

Motion-Picture Projection and Theatre Presentation Manual - published by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), 595 West Hartsdale Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607, Phone 914-761-1100. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 78-95387. First published in 1969, this book is really showing its age (before platters, before stereo optical soundtracks, before digital sound). But it does cover many of the basics of projection. At last word, a new SMPTE Projection Manual will soon be available, with material from the BKSTS Projection Manual, and updates from ITEA equipment suppliers.

Standards for Motion Picture Production and Presentation - published by Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, 595 West Hartsdale Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607, Telephone 914-761-1100. Web site: http://www.smpte.org/publ/pubs.html. Contains 21 key motion-picture standards covering camera apertures, film dimensions, audio records, time and control codes, scanned areas and projection parameters. Member price $40, Non-members $55. ISBN 0-940690-32-2. (a real bargain, as individual standards usually cost $15 each). You can also order a CD-ROM containing Adobe Acrobat .pdf files of ALL current SMPTE standards.

Kodak's "Film Notes for Reel People" (Publication H-50 Issues 01 to 53), now known as "Cinema Notes" (Issue H-50-54 published March 2000). Free US mail subscription available by faxing request to 310-204-7111, or sending "snail mail" address information to pamela.jackson@kodak.com. Also available on-line at Kodak's web site: http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/index.shtml. BTW, Brad Miller is also scanning and posting all previous issues on the Film-Tech site, from 1976 to present.

The Kodak web site has quite a few other publications available "on-line", as well as a wealth of technical information on films and film handling (e.g., film data sheets, processing specifications, printing information, cyan dye track, etc.): http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Kodak ScreenCheck Training Program - an updated and expanded version of Kodak's projectionist training program. Seminars given in Los Angeles (Culver City) CA, or "on the road" at your site. Call Jim Ferguson at 310-204-7144 or E-mail james.ferguson@kodak.com

BKSTS Wall Chart Series - an excellent series of posters that illustrate the history of color film, widescreen formats, special effects processes, etc. Available from the British Kinematograph Sound and Television Society (BKSTS) at http://www.bksts.com/posters.htm Copies are also for sale by the SMPTE.

BKSTS Motion Picture Presentation Manual - may still be available from the BKSTS. AFAIK, is being updated and information will be shared with the new SMPTE projection manual. http://www.bksts.com

BKSTS Seminars for Cinema Projectionists - BKSTS often sponsors all-day training seminars for theatre projectionists in the UK. http://www.bksts.com/courses.htm

National Projector Carbon Bulletins - first published in 1958. Obviously out of date and out of print. Excellent and very understandable discussion of projection optics, light measurement,lamphouse alignment, etc.

American WideScreen Museum - Marty Hart's excellent and comprehensive web site covering the history of widescreen movies, sound and color motion-pictures. An invaluable resource. http://www.simplecom.net/widefilm/

Mitchell's Manual of Practical Projection - by Robert A. Mitchell, published by International Projectionist Publications Co. in 1956. Library of Congress Call Number TR890.M55. Old and out of print, but an excellent summary of the mechanics and physics of projection (e.g, discussion of intermittents, shutters, etc.)

Bluebook of Projection - by Frank Herbert Richardson, edited by Aaron Nadell, published by Quigley Publishing in 1953. Library of Congress Call Number TR890.R5 1953 The last update of the famous "Bluebook", covers the basics of projection.

Film Presentation: Presentation is Everything - 30-minute VHS tape, covering the basics of projection for the "newbie". Available from the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), 4605 Lankershim Boulevard, Suite 340, North Hollywood, CA 91602. Phone 818-506-1778. http://www.hollywood.com/nato/tapes.html

Projectionists Training Manual - by Vince Guzzo, a loose-leaf manual published by the Guzzo Group, 11909 England St., Overland Park, Kansas, 66213, Telephone: 913-451-1921.

I've started the list. Does anyone else have books or training materials that they have found useful?

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-20-2000, 04:49 PM:

When you can find them
Mitchells book on projetion has a lot of usefull info on screens curves lens and projector design last published in the late 50's

Camerons serries of books the last was probably published in the late 60's and they did a short one on automation

Mr Trouts notes for projectionists

The original BKSTS manual

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-20-2000, 06:24 PM:

Whew. I think John pretty much took that one on himself! That's pretty comprehensive!

There is also the FAQ from hell (compiled by Scott Norwood) as well as a few projection tips here on this site under "projection tips".

(Those Film Notes will be available very soon and are excellent reading.)

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-20-2000, 07:04 PM:

Memo to self: time to update that FAQ!

Can someone please confirm or deny for me that the SMPTE projection book is out of print? I bought one a little over a year ago, but someone recently told me that it's no longer available. Does anyone know for sure?

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-20-2000, 09:44 PM:

The Mitchell's Manual and the Richardson's Blue Book are THE best source (although dated) for projection knowledge. The principal information is still valid---optics, etc.
I've tried for years to get these at libraries and every one tells me that "someone stole our copies".

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-20-2000, 09:52 PM:

I have most of the camerons books except for his one on widescreen/3d and i have mitchells, and richardsons starting from the 1916 first edition red book
also 2 british books

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-20-2000, 10:38 PM:

I have several of the Cameron books. Most of them are just copies of equipment manuals or stuff someone else wrote, but are still interesting. They were really cheap about 20 years ago, when his son was selling them; probably just to get rid of them.

If you are looking for out-of-print books you should have as much info about the book as possible.

"Sound Motion Pictures- Recording and Reproducing"
"Motion Picture Projection"
both by James R. Cameron
Cameron Publishing Company, Coral Gables, FL
(no ISBN number, most likely privately published- out of print, and the phone number I had for his son doesn't work anymore.)

There's a pretty good chapter on "Image Projection" in:
"The Handbook for Sound Engineers" Edited by Glen Ballou - Howard W. Sams / Macmillan Inc. ISBN 0-672-21983-2 (I have the 2nd edition dated 1987.)

Of course, it was written for sound systems and technology, but since sound and picture go hand-in-hand, it is a good book to have. It is a very complete. For example, there is another chapter that discusses cinema design, showing a suggested port window design and projector pedstal vibration isolating.

Posted by Erich Loepke (Member # 166) on 03-21-2000, 02:12 AM:

If you can find it, "Audio Cyclopedia" by Howard M. Tremaine contains even more information than its successor, the above mentioned "Handbook for Sound Engineers". The chapter covering optical sound recording is over 100 pages itself, and will tell you more than you'll ever want to know about it!

"Audio Cyclopedia" by Howard W. Tremaine-Howard W. Sams
ISBN 0-672-20675-7

This book has been out of print for some time, and can be pricey (around $75.00) in the audio community.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-21-2000, 06:17 AM:

I still remember the Wesley Trout articles about projection that were published in Boxoffice. If Gordon McLeod can supply copies to Brad, maybe Film-Tech can get permission from Boxoffice Magazine to scan and post them here. Likewise, I'll see if I can get permission from Union Carbide to scan and post my National Projector Carbon Bulletins that have an excellent and understandable discussion of projection optics, lamphouse alignment, and light measurement.

The great thing about the Internet is the ability to re-publish out-of-print material that isn't readily available elsewhere. Hopefully, the copyright owners will give permission to republish this information. Does anyone volunteer to track down the copyright owners of the Mitchell, Richardson, and Cameron books to see if they will grant permission to scan and post the material?

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-21-2000, 08:35 PM:

You don't need Boxoffice's permission for the Wesley Trout stuff. Wesley had his infamous "Loose-Leaf Service Manual" for sale, with essentially the same info as the articles. So if you can get a copy of that somewhere, it might be easier than talking to a corporate lawyer who's automatically going to say no and ask for $$$. Wesley died in the late 70s. (see my tribute site at: http://www.driveinworkshop.com/trout/index.htm

Re: the Cameron books; the son died too-- several years ago. This info from a brother member of the Miami local who knew them both. The senior Cameron was a projectionist in 1903, so I'd say the son was probably getting along in years by the 80s!

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-21-2000, 09:15 PM:

The Richardson's Blue book was published by Quigley Publishing, who are still in business. Perhaps all it would take is contacting them for permission to post/reprint items from the BlueBook.
Quigley still publishes the MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC.
Contact info:
Quigley Publishing Company, Inc.
159 West 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019
(619) 459-1159

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 03-21-2000, 11:33 PM:

Bookfinder at http://www.bookfinder.com/

is a great place to search for out of print books. It came up with a couple of the Cameron Projection books:

Click here

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-22-2000, 06:25 AM:

Ken, Quigley published the Bluebook after the coming of sound (which, everybody knows is just a fad...). But the 1912 Richardson book I have (then, a RED book) was published by Chalmers Publishing/The Moving Picture World, which are long gone. Copyright's probably expired on it anyway, so there's no permission to be granted on this edition.

That is, if we don't mind learning about low-intensity lamps, lime burners and cranking speeds!

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-22-2000, 07:57 AM:

Tim:

One of those editions I think mentions that the projectionist shouldn't get spoiled and lazy by having an ELECTRIC MOTOR instead of a hand crank!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-24-2000, 07:43 AM:

Yes, hand-cranking is for PROS, because you can adjust cranking speed on the fly, to compensate for variations in the filming speed, which makes you a better showman! Isn't that great?!

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-24-2000, 10:36 AM:

Also you don't want to spoil projectionists with automatic feeding arc systems

In Ontario in the teens it was a criminal offense to attach a motor to projector